Atlanta mayor to kick OWS protesters out of Woodruff Park

The mayor gave no indication of when he would officially revoke the executive order that allowed the protesters to remain in Woodruff Park beyond the 11 p.m. curfew for the city’s parks.

Reed was surrounded today by members of the local faith community, who he said would mediate an agreement with the members of Occupy Wall Street’s Atlanta faction. Among the clergymen was openly gay Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim.

There is also a sizable LGBT contingent among the Occupy Atlanta protesters.

Lesser said after the press conference that he received word from the mayor Sunday that his participation in the mediation process was wanted.

“He wanted to know if there was a group of us who would be willing to speak with and negotiate with Occupy Wall Street protesters,” Lesser told GA Voice.

“I wanted to be here as somebody who was open to the messages. As someone who is open to civil disobedience, but there is truth in some of the public’s safety concerns.”

Lesser added that there was not currently a plan of action, but said that he had previously visited Woodruff Park to talk to protesters.

“Where I get nervous is when people get completely demonized. That happens on both sides. That’s why I thought it was important for people to see the positives of humanity. Part of what I was able to express was a certain sense of positivity with people that I’ve connected with [in Woodruff Park].”

Lesser added that he would be in the park Wednesday but was unable to provide any further details about his role in the mediation.

The Atlanta Police Department’s reputation has been tarnished in recent years after the unconstitutional 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, the shooting of Kathryn Johnston in 2006 and recent allegations made against the department involving public strip searches.

“Nobody wants police brutality,” Lesser said of possible arrests for those who refuse to leave the park. “There’s going to be, because of everything, great sensitivity.”

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